Beidle irons



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. & M. G. P. BUOKLEY. MAUHINB FOR BENDING BRIDLE IRONS.

No. 441,929. Patented Dec. 2, 1890.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. 82: M. G. 1-. BUGKLEY. MACHINE FOR BENDING BBIDLE IRONS.

No. 441,929. Patented Dec. 2, 1890.

[721167220715.- wmld x Milo liiii 3 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. 86 M. G. F. BUGKLEY.

I MACHINE FOR BENDING BRIDLE IRONS. No. 441,929.

Patented Dec. 2, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEREMIAH BUGKLEY AND MICHAEL G. F. EUCKLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR BENDING BRlDLE-IRONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,929, dated December2, 1890.

Application filed September 22, 1890. Serial No. 365,762. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JEREMIAH BUCKLEY and MICHAEL G. F. BUoKLEY, both ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have in vented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Bending Bridle-Ir0ns; and we dohereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thisspecification.

Our invention relates to mechanism for the manufacture of the stirrup orbridle irons commonly used for the support of beams and joists in theconstruction of buildings. It has for its object to reduce the cost oftheir manufacture by the combination, in one machine, of simple andeffective devices adapted to readily bend and twist the iron into shape;and it consists in the novel construction and combination .of mechanismfor said purpose hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of afinished bridle-iron such as is manufactured by the use of our improvedmachine. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the machine, showing an ironblank for the bridle-iron inserted in position in readiness to beoperated upon. Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the use in themachine of the twisting-lever, by which the iron is twisted as required,the iron being represented as bent up in readiness for said operation.Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the use in the machine of thefolding-lever by which the ends of the twisted iron are bent over toform its terminal hooks. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the upper portionof the machine,illustrating the movement of the folding-lever incompleting the formation of the bridle-iron. Fig. (i is a rear view ofthe machine, illustrating, the mechanism by which it is adjusted to themanufacture of diiferent lengths of bridleirons. Fig. 7 is a detailsection in line 0c a: of Fig. 6, illustrating the spring-actuated shaftcarrying the swinging steadying-plates; and Fig. 8, a detail insectional elevation of a modification in the construction of theforming-block, whereby it is made adjustable in width.

Similarletters indicate correspondingparts in all of the figures.

In the accompanying drawings, A, Fig. 1, represents a stirrup-iron orbridle-iron constructed of a flat strip of iron bent into proper form bymeans of our machine, a bein g thebase thereof; 0 0, its lateral shank,and (l d its books, the shanks c 0 being both twisted to bring the hooksin a plane at right angles with the base.

B B are base-blocks, one of which B is fitted to move to and from theother in a dovetailed recess a, formed in the bed-plate C, upon whichsaid blocks are mounted. The movement of the block B is effected and itsad justment controlled by means of a screw f workin g loosely throughthe fixed block B, parallel with the bed-plate C, and screwing into theadjustable block B.

' Standing-blocks 1) D are fitted to move vertically in recesses cut outin the inner rear corners of the base-blocks B B, being guided andsupported by tongues g g, projecting from each base-block intolongitudinal grooves in the standing-block, as represented by dottedlines in Fig. 0. These standing-blocks are both adjustable in height,each by means of a rack h on its rear outer face meshing with a pinion ion a transverse shaft t", journaled in suitable bracketsjj secured tothe rear face of the base-block and operated by a crank 1 as shown inFlPI.6, and they are supported when adjusted by means of dogs Z Z,pivoted to swing upon the shaft 1" into engagement at their lower endswith the notches in the racks h h. The adjuslmentof these standingblocksD D determines the length of the shanks c c of the bridle-arm, (see Fig.1,) and the length of the base a of the iron is determined by the widthof the opening left between the base-blocks B B.

A forming-block E is fitted to move freely vertically in the openingbetween the baseblocks B B immediately in front of and in contact withthe standing-blocks D D, being made to fit in guideways m m formed toreceive it in the opposite inner faces of the two base-blocks.

A set of forming blocks E, of different widths, adapted to conform tothe standard lengths of the base in bridle-irons of different sizes, maybe used interchangeably with the machine, the base-blocks B B beingadjusted to each, as required; or a single adjustable forming-block E(see Fig. 8) may be used, said block being vertically divided into twosections 'n n, united by transverse adjustingscrews n, to admit of achange in the width thereof in conformity to the required length of basea for the bridle-iron.

The forming-block E admits of being raised in its ways m m until itslower end is above the level of the top of the base-blocks B B, so thatthe strip of iron or blank F of which the stirrup or bridle-iron is tobe formed may be laid horizontally flat-wise upon the baseblocks toextend under the forming-block across the opening between them. Themiddle of the blank-strip F is placed immediately under theforming-block E, its position being gaged by means of a gage-block G,mounted to slide on an arm Gr, extending in a right line with the stripoutwardlyfrom the fixed base-block B.

A central recess p is formed in the top of the forming-block E parallelwith the length of the opening between the base-blocks B B, and a leverH, pivoted at the rear of the standing-blocks D D, is made to swingforward between the standing-blocks and to extend through said recess soas to project horizontally at the front of the machine and bear upon apin fitted transversely in the recess. By means of this lever H pressureis brought to bear upon the forming-block E sufficient to cause it tobend and force the iron strip or blank F centrally down into the spacebetween the base-blocks B B, the proximate faces of said blocks beingrecessed at this point (see'at 0, Fig. 3) sufficiently to admit thethickness of the iron between the basebloek and forming-block on eachside of the latter. By this means the two rectangular bends at each endof the base a of the iron strip are readily produced. After the blankhas thus received its first bends the lever II is made fast by means ofa hook H, pivoted to the base C, to swing over the end of the lever atthe front of the machine, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and

A flat stead ying-plate L is pivoted to oscillate vertically edgewise ina slot in the upper end of each standing-block D, near to its inner end,so as to admit of being swung out to project horizontally from its frontface at a right angle therewith, in position to steady and support theupper end of the blank strip F after it has been bent up, as described,and as shown in Fig. 3. This swinging steadyingplateLis attached to arock-shaft M, mounted centrally in the upper end of each standingblockD,parallel with its front face, so as to turn with said shaft. The shaftis automatically turned so as to carry the plate L to its horizontalposition by means of a coiled spring 8, (shown in Fig. 7,) and itsouterend,projecting from the outer end of the standing-block,

is enlarged and formed with a socket M to receive the end of a lever, bywhich it maybe turned back against the stress of said spring 3. A secondsteadying-plate L, corresponding with the plate L, is pivoted looselyupon the shaft M, to extend out therefrom, parallel with said plate L,through a slot in the upper end of each standing-block, so as tooscillate freely independently of said shaft M and of the plate L. beingswung out to project horizontally from the front face of thestanding-block in the same'plane as the plate L, and at a distancetherefrom corresponding with the width of the strip F, which is to formthe bridle-iron, the two plates serving to guide and steady the upperend of the said strip when it is bent up between them, as hereinafterdescribed.

A segmental recess or guideway I, describing an are having approximatelyat its center the outer angle 10, Fig. 2, of the forming-block with thestanding-block, is formed in the upper face of each base-block B and B,the bottom of said guideway being undercut along its entire length oneach side thereof, as shown at q q in Figs. 2,3, and 4.

A roller J is fitted to travel freely in each recess or guideway I, thebody of the roller being of a diameter slightly less than the Width ofthe guideway, while the diameter of its upper portion, projecting abovethe surface of the base-plate, is enlarged so as to project over theedges of the guideway. Its lower portion is likewise enlarged indiameter to constitute a flange J, adapted to enter the under-cut q g oneach side of therecess, as shown at the left hand in Fig. 3 and at theright in Fig. 4.. Each roller J is thus prevented from being lifted outof its guideway, while free to travel back and forth therein the lengththereof. A central pin J is fitted to project axially from the top ofeach roller J to serve as a pivot for a detachable lever K, Fig. 3,whose inner end is so bent as that when the roller is carried to itsextreme inner position in the guideway I, as shown in Fig. 3, and thelever is mounted upon the vertical pivot-pin J a slot K, cut in the endof the lever, shall register with and readily embrace at a pointimmediatelyabovetheforming-block E the proximate upright end of the ironstrip or blank F, after it has, by the descent of said forming-block E,been bent up, as described, and as shown in Fig. 3. \Vhen the lever K,pivoted upon the axial pin J of the roller J, has thus been made toembrace with its inner slotted end K the thickness of the iron strip F,the upper end of the strip may, by swinging the lever to the front sothat it shall simultaneouslyturn upon the pin J be readily bent andtwisted until said upper end is brought to a right angle with the lowerportion of the strip and parallel with the front face of the proximatestanding-block I). A recess 1", (see Figs. 2, 3, and

4,) cut in the front face of the standing-block D in register with theend of said twistinglever K, allows room for the play of the end Thissecond plate L admits of .block D and between the steadying-plates L L,as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The ends of the strip or blank F, projecting vertically above thestanding-blocks D D, as shown in Fig. 4-, are bent back over the tops ofthe blocks and down again upon the rear face thereof, by means of atransverse detachable bar P, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) provided ateach endwith pins P P, adapted to fit in the sockets M in theoutwardly-projecting ends of the two rock-shafts M M, mounted in saidstanding-blocks. The bar is thus supported transversely across the frontface of the standing-blocks against the faces of the upright ends of thestrip F, immediately below the steadying-platcs L L, and by reason ofits connection with the shafts M M: is free to swing upon said shafts asan axis over the tops of the standing-blocks and in contact therewithfrom the one side to the other thereof, said movement being illustratedby the dotted lines in Fig. 5. The rotation of the shafts M, produced bythe movement of the foldingbar P as it swings from front to rear,carries the inner steadying-plates L L with the bar. The contact of thefolding-bar with the outer loose steadying-plates L L operates to carrythem also simultaneously with it, whilethe bar, bearing in its saidmovement against the flat faces of the strip F projecting between thetwo sets of steadyingplates, will bend the strip closely over the topedges and ends of the standing-blocks and thereby produce the doublebend in each end of the strip required to form its hooks.

The swinging movement of the folding-bar I is produced by means of along lever P fitted thereto to project centrally therefrom at a rightangle therewith, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

To permit of a widening of the standingblocks for the formation of hooksof different width, dovetailed grooves T T (see Figs. 6 and '7) areformed vertically in the rear face of the upper end of each block, toreceive and hold counterpart dovetailed tongues upon blocks of varyingwidth, adapted to be secured thereby to the standing-blocks to increasetheir width, as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7.

In the operation of the machine, after the open interval between thebase-blocks B B has been adjusted in width by means of the screw f toconform to the length of base required in the bridle-iron, and theheight of the standing-blocks D D has been adjusted by turning the cranki and shaft '1' to deter mine the length of its shanks, the blank F,

of which the bridle-iron is to be formed, being first properly heated toadmit of being readily worked, is laid flat upon the baseblocks B B,under the forming-block E and against the standing-blocks D D, and bymeans of the gage-block G is adjusted so as to bring its middle pointcentrally over the interval between the base-blocks. The formin g-blockE is then forced down upon the middle of the blank F by means of thelever H, and the blank is carried down thereby into the open intervaluntil it strikes the bottom thereof, and is thereby bent so that its twoends shall project vertically on each side of the forming-block at aright angle with the middle portion confined under said block. Theupright ends, which are to constitute the shank of the bridle-iron, arethen, each in succession, caught in the slotted end or jaws of thetwisting-lever K, which is pivoted for the .purpose on the pin Jprojecting from the roller J. After the slotted end of the pivoted leverK has been made to engage the blank F the lever is swung around to thefront, the rollerJmoving withit,and the portion of the blank projectingabove the face of the baseblock B or B is thereby twisted until it isbrought to a rightangle with the portion con fined by the forming-blockE and parallel with the face of the standing-block D, against which itis closely pressed. Its upper end, after being bent up, is steadiedlaterally by the steadying-plate L. After both ends of the blank F havethus been twisted to form the shanks of the bridle-iron, as shown inFig. 4, the outer steadying-plates L L are swung out to confine theblanks laterally. The pins P P of the folding-bar P are then inserted inthe sockets M M of the shafts M M, and by means of the lever P said baris swung completely over the top of the standingblocks D D, carryingwith it the projecting ends of the blank F, confined between thesteadying-plates L L,so as to bend said ends sharply over the uppercorners of said blocks upon the tops thereof and down againsttheir rearface, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby forming the hooks for the bridle-ironand completing its manufacture. So soon as the folding-bar is withdrawnfrom the sockets M M the shafts M M will be automatically turned back bytheir springs 88, (see Fig. 7,) so as to carry the innersteadying-plates L L back to their first position, as shown in Fig. 2.

We claim as our invention 1. The combination, in a machine for bendingbridle-irons, of the bed-plate, the baseblocks thereon having a forming-interval be tween them, the standing-blocks projecting above thebase-blocks at the rear thereof on each side of said interval, theforming-block dropping vertically in front of said standingblocks into.said opening, and the bending-lever having a suitable fulcrum at itsrear end, and which extends forward between the standing-blocks and overthe forming-block to bear thereon for its depression, all substantiallyin the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, with the base-blocks having a forming intervalbetween them, the standing-blocks on either side of said interval at therear of the base-blocks, and a formfor the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combinatiomin a machine forbending bridle-irons, uith thebase-blocks having a forming interval between them, the standing-blocksprojecting above the base-blocks at the rear end thereof on each side ofsaid interval, and the forming-block moving vertically in front of andagainst the standingblocks to drop into said interval, of the vertically-disposed rollers, each moving in a curved way formed in the top of eachbaseblock and describing an are having substantially the angle formed bythe proximate face of the forming-block with the front face of theadjacent standing-block as its center, the axial pin projecting abovethe roller, and the detachable twisting-lever fitting upon said pin toswing thereon, and whose inner end is bent and slotted substantially asdescribed, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinset forth.

4. The combination, in a machine for twisting the shanks ofbridle-irons, with a baseblock and means, substantially as described,for confining the shank of the iron against one face of said base-block,of a curved guideway formed in the top of the base-block and describingan are having substantially the proximate angle of the forming-blockwith the face of the standing-block as its center, a roller having itsaxis vertically disposed moving in said curved guideway, a pivot-pinprojecting axially from the top of the roller, and a twisting-leverfitting upon said pivot-pin to swing thereon and engage edgewise withits inner end, the shank to be twisted, substantially in the manner andfor the purpose herein set forth.

5. The combination, in a machine fortwisting the shanks of bridle-irons, of a base-block, a curved guideway formed in said base-block andlaterally and longitudinally undercut or enlarged at the bottom, aroller fitted to move in said guideway with its axis at a right anglewith the bottom thereof, a circumferential flange upon the lower innerend of the roller fitted to extend into the undercut recess in theguideway, and a flange or collar of enlarged diameter upon the upperouter portion of the roller to overlap the edge of the guideway,substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

6. The combination, in a machine forbending bridle-irons, withmechanism, substantially as described, for bending and twisting intoform the shanks of the iron and for confining the same when twisted, ofthe vertical standing-blocks, against which the twisted shanks aresupported and above which they are made to project, the rock-shaftsmounted horizontally in said standing-blocks, the detachable folding-barextending transversely across the front of the standing-blocks to bearagainst the faces of the shanks, and having pins projecting at each endthereof into sockets in the outer ends of the rock-shafts,

and a lever projectingcentrally from the folding-bar at a right angletherewith, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein setforth.

7. The combination, in a machine forbending bridle-irons, with thestanding-blocks over which the shanks are bent to form the hooks, andWith the rock-shafts in said standing-blocks, of the steadying-platesattached to said shafts to project and oscillate therewith through slotsin the upper ends of the standing-plates, substantially in the mannerand for the purpose herein set forth.

8. The combination, with the standingblocks D D and rock-shafts M M,mounted therein, of the steadying-plates L L, mounted to oscillateloosely upon said shafts in slots formed in the upper ends of thestandingblocks, substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinset forth.

9. The combination, with the standingblocks D D and rock-shafts M M,mounted therein, of the springs s s, actuating said shafts, thesteadying-plates L L, attached to said shafts, and the steadying-platesL L, pivoted loosely thereon, said plates being severally made toproject through slots in the upper ends of the standing-blocks,substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

10. The combination, in a machine for bending bridle-irons, with thebase-blocks B B and standing-blocks D D, mounted vertically in the rearends of said base-blocks, of a transverse crank-shaft journaled inbearings at the rear of said base-blocks, a rack formed in the rear faceof each standing-block, pinions upon the shaft engaging each rack, anddogs pivoted upon the shaft to swing into and out of engagement witheach rack, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein setforth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JEREMIAH BUOKLEY. MICHAEL G. Fl BUGKLEY. \Vitnesses:

A. N. JESBERA, E. M. \VATSON.

